LAKE FOREST, Ill.—It might be a good time for the Chicago Bears to rethink their game plan after struggling at the start of games.

Too often, Jay Cutler and the offense have spun their wheels, if not the first series, then certainly on first down and in the first half of games.

They continue to rank at the bottom of the league on first downs. Their rout of the Tennessee Titans was a series of gifts from the Bears' defense or special teams — only one of their four offensive touchdowns came on drives longer than 16 yards.

Cutler pointed out the reason he has been the No. 1 quarterback in the fourth quarter of games is because the Bears have had leads. This is true, but the lead hasn't been the result of a fast start by the offense. Rather, it's largely been the result of the defense making big plays.

Cutler doesn't come into games with a scripted set of plays. Rather, offensive coordinator Mike Tice has a checklist of plays he likes and Cutler and other offensive players know what they are. It's not totally unlike the way former coordinator Mike Martz approached games.

The offensive line often comes into game struggling to get runs blocked or to face blitzes.

Defined plays that have been repeated in practice and are scripted can make for faster starts. Green Bay has often had success against the Bears using the approach.

Expecting the offensive brain trust to alter something this drastic at this point in the season might be expecting too much, but it has to be something to be considered with the offense sitting in the bottom 10 consistently this season.